Nail or spike



(No Model.)

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OR SPIKE. No. 450,861 Patented Apr. 21,.1891..

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SELDEN DEEMER, OF CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

NAIL OR SPIKE.

SPECIFIGA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,861, dated April 21, 1891.

Application filed March 8, 1890. Serial No. SIL-8,159. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SELDEN S. DEEMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chester, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for Railroad-Rails, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in spikes or devices for fastening railroad-rails.

Figure 1 shows a rail and my improved spike. Fig. 2 shows the spike detached. Fig. 3 is a section on line t t, Fig. 2.

The spike is shown as having the shank A angular in cross-section, (see Fig. 3,) and the book-head B, which engages with the upper side of the flange of the rail. It is substantially wedge-shaped and has unbroken sides, eXeept at O, Where there is a projection extending across the shank. Whenthe spike is driven into place, the projection passes down by the side of the flange D, and then springs or slips into place a short distance under the edge and abuts against the flange, and is held in position by the elasticity of the fibers of the wood. The jolting and jars experienced by the rails cannot cause the head B to move upward away from the flange, and therefore the shank A will be retained n proper position in the wood.

By using a spike-retainer of substantially this character I obviate the spreading of the rails of a track. Such spreading, as is well known, results from the fact that the spikes loosen in the Wood to such an extent that when sevcre lateral pressure is brought to bear upon the rails they are forced outward, such outward movement under pressure being possible even before the spiles come entirely out of the wood, a partial loosenin g of them being sufficient.

It Will be seen that it is impossible to start any one spike when they are fastened as herein provided for without the rail-flange yielding from end to end of the rail, which is a contingency not liable to be met.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I will refer to those in the same general class which it has been attempted to use for the same purpose.

One of the earlier spikes has been made against the inner face of the Spike would be crowded away sufliciently by the wedgerto cause the lower edge of said groove to permanently engage with the under side of the flange of a rail; but With that construction it is necessary to crowd out of place all of the fibers of the wood bearing against the whole of the body or shank of the spike on the inner side, in order to force the said lower edge of the groove in far enough, and this crowding is very difieult and in many cases impossible to accomplish.

Earlier spikes of another form were made in such way as to be used in pairs in connection with a metal plate sunk into the wooden Sleeper, those of each pair being arranged opposite to each other and both having barbs near the point end and being Constructed so that one could be forced toward the other by a separate Wedge. Each spike of such a pair had a projection extending inward from the nner face to engagc with the under side of the rail-flange; but this projection was not driven into the wood, and, owing to the presence of the aforesaid barb below it, it could not be driven into it to advantage. In another case the shank was made cylindrical, so that it could be turned after being driven into the wood; but I desire to prevent all turning of the shank and make it angular in section. (See Fg. 3.) In my case the part which enters the wood is, as has been said, of the ordinary form without any proj ections extending inward from the nner face or outward from the outer, and therefore it can be IOU unbroken enter face, as at z z, a-nd. with the straght unbroken nner face, as at cc x', and having the projecton O integral With said shank and projecting inwamd from the line oc m2 and adapte and located substantially as set forth, Whereby When drven it passes below and catches under the flzmge.

In testimony Whereo'f I affix my Signature in pvesence of two'wituesses'.

SELDEN s. DEEMER.

Wtnesses:

THos. MARPLE, A. H. DILL. 

